What's in store?

This event will be an avenue for students to learn from their peers, showcase their scientific prowess, learn new techniques and open their minds to the various possibilities of science. We hope that this will enthuse students with the wonder of science as well as illustrate to them how ideas can be fulcrums that can move the world.

• Talk by Prof Michael Bird - 'The past and future of biochar': 'Biochar' is simply charcoal, produced by combustion of biomass under conditions of restricted oxygen for use in agriculture and for carbon sequestration. Natural and anthropogenic fires burn 2-4 million square kilometres annually and humans have been making biochar inadvertently and purposefully since they started to use fire over a million years ago. Biochar was largely supplanted during the industrial revolution by fossil fuels, but, ironically, is now beging an option for mopping up carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion and storing the carbon back in the soil. Biochar does have the potential to sequester significant amounts of carbon, generate ‘carbon negative’ energy and improve soil fertility. However, it is a complex material and its interactions with the soil environment and plants are similarly complex. Hence biochar is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution. This talk will outline the history of humanities long association with biochar, provide an introduction to the nature and potential uses of biochar as well as consider the potential for developing biochar applications in Singapore.
• Panel Discussion: will provide an opportunity for students to interact with experts and pioneers who are changing the world with science. The panelists will have a short presentation titled “5 Minutes to Change the World” to give an insight into paradigm-changing ideas that have/will revolutionize(d) their fields.
• Poster competition: will provide secondary school students with an opportunity to showcase scientific projects which they have undertaken and share their design of a science project from concept to presentation. Schools may submit student teams for participation in the poster competition. The competition will be open to students who have undertaken science or research projects, under the guidance of their science teacher or other mentors, in 2011.
• Scientific workshops: there will be engaging workshops and activities that encompass the theme “Science For A Better Future”. For more information, please click here.